Infection of small mammals with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Slovenia as determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Thirty-four small mammals collected in the vicinity of Ljubljana were teste d for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu late by polymerase chain r eaction (PCR) of urinary bladder tissues, using universal flagellin primers and species specific rRNA primers. Seventeen small mammals (50%) were foun d to be positive, and 7 small mammals were infected with two species of B. burgdorferi sensu late simultaneously. The most commonly found species was B. afzelii (n = 14), followed by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (n = 7) and B . garinii (n = 3), as determined by species-specific primers. We conclude t hat PCR is a rapid and reliable method to detect infection with B. burgdorf eri sensu late in small mammals.